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PELHAM, N.H. — Scoring has never been an issue for Pelham but defense has, especially where Souhegan has been concerned.

Despite just sneaking into the Class I postseason as a 16th and last seed, the 6-12 Sabers have given teams fits. They scored more points than they allowed this season, rare for a sub-.500 squad, and lost seven games by two possessions or less. Souhegan even challenged the top-ranked Pythons in two close defeats, ringing up 75 points just a week ago.

But head coach Todd Kress laid down the challenge to his troops to play tournament-level defense and Pelham did just that, giving more than enough latitude for a hot-and-cold offense to stretch the advantage to an eventual 72-51 first round victory in front of a vocal full house at Pelham High.

Now at 18-1 in the league and 19-3 overall, the Pythons host No. 8 Lebanon (13-6), a 56-48 winner over ninth seed Hollis-Brookline last night, Friday at 7 p.m. in quarterfinal action. The two teams did not face each other during the regular season.

"We did a better job getting back, defending man on man, and we played great help-side defense," Kress said. "The kids bought into defense (last night). We weren’t going to win this game on offense. We were going to win on defense."

One important subtraction from the Souhegan attack was senior center Jake Gaffney, who was double-teamed effectively, picked up two quick fouls, and missed the majority of the first half. He finished with just four points, all from the foul line.

"We couldn’t guard Gaffney 1-on-1 so we really had to come over and front him, show a lot of different looks," Kress said. "It forced their coaches not to play him a lot in the first half and he became a non-factor. Then Souhegan tried to match up athletically with us, and it was important we dictate that pace early."

And the Sabers just couldn’t play at the speed Pelham could. With point guard Justin Hojlo (29 points with six 3-pointers, 8 assists and 6 rebounds) cracking the whip and Stephen Spirou (20 points, 8 boards and 2 dimes) providing a perfect foil, the Pythons led from 2:15 into the game to the final buzzer.

"We’ve been doing that all year," Spirou said. "Basically, it’s just a 1-2 combo. Justin creates a lot of offense for me. When he goes to the basket, they concentrate on him and it leaves me wide open."

Despite suffering 18 turnovers and going 22 for 60 from the field (37 percent), Pelham was never threatened after a crushing 9-0 run to end the first half created an 18-point lead at 43-25. Spirou’s reverse layup, a conventional 3-point play from Michael Lombard (7 points), and four free throws from Hojlo — two on a foul and two more on a technical arguing the call, created the gap. The Sabers got no closer than 15 points the rest of the way.

Souhegan was led by Joe Elich’s 21 points, the only Saber player in double figures.